Friction device



Aug. z8, 1934.

Filed. Feb. 10. 1932 w. s. BURDICK FRICTION DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet l @ZW/fw Gttorneg Aug- 28, 1934- w. s. BURDICK 1,971,929

FRICTION DEVICE Filed Feb. 10, 1932 2`Sheets-Sheet 2 Y Bnvcntor d? Cttorneg Patented Aug. n28, 1934 1,971,929 A Falc'rIoN DEVICE Will S. Burdick,

West VAllis, Wis., `assigner to y Harnischfegcr" Corporation, Milwaukee', Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application February 10, 1932, Serial No.,592,024 I 4 claims. V(01.192-113)` This invention relates to friction devices which are capable of withstanding duties of increased) severity.

One object of the invention is to provide means 5 which may be employed in the transmission of mechanical energy through frictional engagement in amounts greatly exceeding those which have been heretofore possible. Y

It is a further object of this invention to progy through frictional engagement in a manner subject to control of unexpected reliability and responsiveness. Y

'Further objects of this invention arising from` l5 the organization of the mechanical structure fabricated in accordance therewith are expressed in the following:

This invention is concerned primarily with the type of structure commonly known as a friction V clutch. A friction clutch is a device for gradually coupling two rotating shafts and the uses to which such structures are put are too common to be described in detail'here. There is, however, a speciiied field wherein such coupling means nd no application, due to certain important limitations and defects which are overcome by this invention.

Prior to this invention frictional drives, such as clutches, were only suited to those services which required that an element be brought, within a reasonably short lapse of time, from rest to the velocity of the prime mover and thereupon move as a unit therewith. If the condition were such that there was a differential in speed between the driving and driven parts of the clutch for periods of appreciable duration, in the case of heavy machines, the clutch known prior to my invention was of little use. A clutch with a reasonable amount of exposed surface, for example, eight square feet, which is caused to slip under common conditions for one minute out of every three will not dissipate heat to the surrounding atmosphere at the calculated rate of appearance until the temperature of the clutch approaches 1000 `degrees F. The design of a clutch to operate satisf actorily at such a temperature is practically impossible. A conventional type of clutch might be made which would withstand the duty outlined above. It would be of extremely large size, having an extremely large amount of heat dissipating surface, but its dimensions would be too great to permit a practical use thereof.

In normal operation the rotating cab Yof the excavator with all its attachments, such as the 55"-b'oom and tackle, weighing many tons and havvide means for transmitting mechanical *eneringenormous turning moment, was placed'into swinging motion, stopped and placed into reverse swingingvmotion at least once every three. minutes. The friction clutches were thus employed both as starting and stopping means. Under these conditions parts ofthe clutches ex- Yceeded in temperature seven hundred degrees Fahrenheit and rapid destruction of the lining occurred, together with cracking of main structural parts ofthe clutch itself, due to unequal thermal' expansion. I

In contrast to this the clutches of my invention, although of moderate size, when applied to the samemachine as described above per- Y formed without exceeding two hundred and fifty degrees Fahrenheit under normal operation, the linings of the clutch served Without replacement for a reasonable length of time and no mechanical failure of parts occurred.

In addition to the above expected improvements there was discovered, when the clutch of this invention was placed in operation, that a new result of `primary importance and not predictable in advance had been obtained. This new result consisted in surprisingly reliable and deli- I cate response onrthe part of Vthe clutches to the actuation of the controls on the part of the operator of the machine. This new result has made it possible for an operator of normal skill and reliability to handle a machine tothe full limit of itscapacity lwith freedom and safety.

To assist in describing this invention reference is made to the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 represents a side view of two clutches, onV a common shaft, which are constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is anv end view of a clutch constructed in ,accordance with this invention;

Fig. 3 is an optional form in which the device of this invention may be constructed.

In Fig. 1 are shown two clutches mounted upon a common driving shaft 1, the driving shaft being mounted to rotate in journal supports 2. The interior parts of the clutches are of the common internal expanding band type and are not shown in Fig. 1, but are shown in Fig. 2 wherein the bands l1 are secured to spiders 15 attached to the shaft 1 and cooperate when expanded with the interior surfaces of the drums 3. The exterior surfacesof the drums 3 may be provided with fins 4.

Surrounding the exterior surfaces of the drums 3 are conduits 5 for conveying a current of air in contact with the surfaces of drums 3 and iins 4. Attached to the conduits 5 and connected therelos' The drums 3 in this embodiment constitute the driven portion of the clutch and secured to the drums 3 are gears, or other,meanswcqoperating With the parts to bei-moved within'thecasing..

, As indicated magi-'2; wmie nr sperati-'61? an vtivity with respect to said moving means, means forming conned passages in conjunction with said resisting means, a supply pipe connected with said confined passage, said supply pine having,

a cross-sectional area at least as great as the total cross-sectional area of said confined passage, and means for. ,forcing ait @Pugliese-,i4 upply pipe Jendaidsonfmad Paesane-lr 2".' 4 In` fictinal devices Vwherein heat is generated, `the combination of moving means in frictional contact with resisting means, said resist- "in`g""'means being a material of low thermal conductivtyllwith respect to` said moving means, means forming,. conneclv-` passages in conjunction Lwitlfl.'ysaidv mo, g meaglns, a supply pipe connectenters through supply pipe 6, divides and flows as indicated by the arrows into contact with the drum 3 in the coni-ined spaceprovided by conduit drums 3 and iins 4 at high' l fie passage, said rsupply pipe velocity of the air reduces `the thickness of the havlng a 0s Se tional area at least as great stagnant air nlm on the surfac'efthefdrum and". as4 the'ztotal cross-sectional area of said conincreases the coefficient of heat transfepfroni, xiinedlizkassages, and means for forcing oir through 20 drum to the air. This increase in the ce'fii'ci'eiit'A Sad'Slp'Dy pipe and Said 0011111160. IJLSSageS-l @ineen trenefenis not .simplygena ,0f ll$.re,e., .bui I 3- .11n o elutehsuiteble zornsewith `heavywei 'e wenn@ the. eirbssingfthreh Coniit is eaeilrim tained at a'sped of several hun Y ilnedQfeet nensec.; tot., meenSY-.forliexpandinethe esame, cylindrical 25. on` Whichis thirty'orfvort ytim sthe mean veloc-Y`4` itilof ani infeontactjvtna Slowl rotellina ,clutch ,l Dans.

ieansand adaptedto be` driventheref 0f the type known prior t'lilslgivention. Csiby .thronehlfriciionalcontact,therewith whenisaid l effGelntOf Tiefe-t. ilexierfinqifeeee ronnnrinpro: port'or ttheiylocit ofthe ainmconseguently.,saidcylindricalsmeans,ofxeddimensionformsc the/ coefneient of neattransfer obtainedJay; this; inea oonnedipassagetherewith.aa supply. pipe expansible means is expanded, meanssurrounding invention ms; be twenty 0r thirtytimesasigreat i Connected .,withtsaid ,connnedpassage .said sun-HV ash in the caseof clutches knovynprior to this inpossible the-@ennemi e larseamount otheettof; Confine@ipessaeesmand. means rior, forcing @air 35.-, the all flowing in .wlldllt Wiha relatively small.y th911he1CLuPP1X'pipeendsaid eonvfnedzpas:

,an embosi.irmentd of, my ,in... hinely,l e combination e comprising a ,driving Ventifl which marchesa eontractinatype dclutchi.; Shaft -;con,tretable;l 40.,Whlbanfllend `drumnlf andthegconduit there means for c '14 maybe employed,A

hileI have hereinreferr d .Qnly ,to the use of the fluid air, I wish the term Ply pipehaving, a cross-,sectionalareaatleast as verition.A Thisggreatlyinrased Qoejieritpmakegvgreat as the total cross-sectional areaohsaid,`

n a-clutch suitablefor use `iivith heavyV mai ylindrical, means securediA ontractins the. same. oylin- -4 drica means of fixedgdimension within saivdcon-V. tractablemeans` andadaptedto be driven thereairzto lccnmprehemt Joy,through.. friotionahcontact ,therewith when.,

45 plielfiv'itorrthepurposefor whichtheairis'supplied. CatffdiWthIl-aid Cylindrical meansof fxed di-. I desire it'to be understood thatthis invention A .meDS0QifQImnga Confined. passagetherewitma is not dto be limited to any specicjormy ,or armlgfm'llf Darts. XC1ltinsQfar as such limita.- tions are set forth in the, claims, 50W What L claim asgmyginvention 1. In frctionalrdevices ,wherein heat is gener- ,Y althroueh. sadlsup atedhthecombination of moving means. in fric- DSS-gee.Y tional cpntact with resisting means; said resisting s meklS Dyeing-,2, material of high thermal conducf said supplyipipe having-.a cross-sectionalarea. pat 1 leastasgreat as the ftotal cross-sectional area .of

v ,Winn (s. BRDICK.

supply pipe connected with said confined passage,

saidl confined. .passages,;- and; means;` for forcingl 

